I know, I know.
But yes: I am willing to drop a grand to play the latest Half-Life title.
Feed me Gaben!

Tuesday news:

SALES & DEALS

Warframe: Fortuna hits 132,000 concurrent players
https://www.pcgamer.com/warframe-fortuna-hits-132000-concurrent-players/
The launch of the Fortuna update has seen players swarm Warframe. The free-to-play shooter was jam packed over the weekend as new and returning players headed to Venus, hitting a new peak concurrent player count of almost 132,000.
Githyp and Steamcharts both show that Warframe reached 131,722 concurrent players as the weekend kicked off, compared to Sacrifice’s 129,000 a few months ago. These are just the numbers for Steam and don't include players using the Warframe launcher or playing on consoles.

On Steam, we have to talk about two new sales::

• There's a strange Day of the Devs sale that has... no discounts at all? Strange indeed: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/dayofthedevs/
• And of course, there are the weeklong deals, some of which are:
  • Wreckfest is 33% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/228380/Wreckfest/
  • Jalopy is 50% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/446020/Jalopy/
  • ARK: Survival Evolved is 60% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/346110/ARK_Survival_Evolved/
  • Runner3 has a 67% discount: https://store.steampowered.com/app/516130/Runner3/
  • And lastly, there's Goat Simulator, 75% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/265930/Goat_Simulator/

The Humble Store has a new Tycoon Sale with up to 75% discounts for the next 2 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/tycoon-sale/

And at Fanatical, 4 are the sales to discuss:

• The Star Deal is Styx: Shards of Darkness, roughly 70% off for the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/styx-shards-of-darkness
• There's a Dying Light sale with up to 67% discounts that ends in 2 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/franchises/dying-light
• Bandai Namco also has its games up to 75% off on a sale that ends in 5 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/bandai-namco-entertainment
• And Focus Home Interactive is also on sale, up to 75% off for the next 6 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/focus-home-interactive

SOFTWARE

AMD will not implement DirectX ray tracing until all of its models, from low-end to high-end, can support it
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/amd-will-not-implement-directx-ray-tracing-until-all-of-its-models-from-low-end-to-high-end-are-able-to-support-it/
In an interview with 4Gamer, AMD’s Senior Vice President of Engineering for Radeon Technologies Group, David Wang, revealed that the red team will not implement DirectX ray tracing until all of its GPUs are capable of supporting it.
This basically means that, unlike NVIDIA, AMD will support DXR when this tech has been established and when more developers will be using it. Moreover, and again contrary to NVIDIA, AMD will add support for it in all of its generational models; from low-end to high-end.

Xbox boss admits Microsoft has 'a ton of work' to do on the Windows Store
https://www.pcgamer.com/xbox-boss-admits-microsoft-has-a-ton-of-work-to-do-on-the-windows-store/
The Windows Store was the one constant in our summertime chat about playing games that aren't available on Steam. Terms including "pain in the ass," "abomination," "terrible," and "a lone trash fire in this landscape of things which are broadly fine and broadly functional" were all used to describe the platform and the experience of using it. As reported by The Verge, Xbox chief Phil Spencer acknowledged at the recent XO18 event that the storefront does still have a few issues, but said he's going to get more personally involved in making it better.
"I think we’ve got a ton of work to do on Windows," Spencer said. "Windows is something I’m very committed to, I’ve heard the feedback about our Store. I’m going to take a bigger leadership role on what’s going on with the Windows Store, make it really tailored to the gamers that we know want to see the best from what we have to offer."
It's good when high-placed executives recognize the shortcomings of their offerings instead of trying to sweep them under the rug, and pledge to address them in a meaningful way. The trouble with the Windows Store is that we've heard all of this before, and it never seems to go anywhere. Spencer said in 2017 that "we have work to go do" to make the Windows Store experience better. He said in early 2016 that Microsoft "plans to improve" the Windows Store. He admitted in 2015 that Microsoft "made commitments to developers and consumers that I don’t feel we lived up to."
>> Less talk, more work.

MODS/EMULATORS

-empty-

GAMING NEWS

JUMP FORCE gets a new gameplay, showing Goku, Freeza and Vegeta
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/jump-force-gets-a-new-gameplay-showing-goku-freeza-and-vegeta/
Bandai Namco has released a new official gameplay trailer for JUMP FORCE, showing off Goku, Vegeta and Frieza’s ultimate transformations. the new gameplay trailer shows off Dragon Ball’s Goku and Vegeta reaching their ultimate forms – Super Saiyan Blue. Frieza, not one to be left behind by his long-time rivals, will also be able to transform into his ultimate form – Golden Frieza, bringing chaos and destruction to our world.

We Happy Few patch 1.5 improves framerate and memory usage, brings numerous fixes
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/we-happy-few-patch-1-5-improves-framerate-and-memory-usage-brings-numerous-fixes/
Compulsion Games has released a brand new update for We Happy Few. According to the release notes, this patch will update your game’s version to 1.5 and comes with framerate and memory usage improvements across all platforms, fixes a number of rare and random crash issues, and brings some localization/subtitles improvements.

Sunset Overdrive releases on the PC on November 16th according to Amazon, will feature all DLCs
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/sunset-overdrive-releases-on-the-pc-on-november-16th-according-to-amazon-will-feature-all-dlcs/
Another week, another Sunset Overdrive rumour. Amazon has listed the PC version for a November 16th release. Moreover, and according to this listing, the PC version will feature the Mystery of Mooil Rig, Dawn of the Rise of the Fallen Machines and the Weapons Pack.
>> That's in just 3 days. Shouldn't we have a confirmation of its release from MSoft by now? Unless, for some unknown reason, they don't want to give it publicity.

Here are 24 minutes of gameplay from the early beta and tech demo of Half Life 2
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/here-are-24-minutes-of-gameplay-from-the-early-beta-and-tech-demo-of-half-life-2/
I seriously love these videos that YouTube’s NeoGamer has been publishing lately. Following the video that showcased the early versions of the first Half-Life, NeoGamer has released another video showing the early beta versions and the tech demo – that amazed all gamers when it was originally showcased – from Half Life 2.

Ubisoft will show new gameplay footage for Beyond Good & Evil 2 on December 10th
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/ubisoft-will-show-new-gameplay-footage-for-beyond-good-evil-2-on-december-10th/
In an interview with EveryEye, Guillaume Brunier, senior producer on Beyond Good & Evil 2, has revealed that Ubisoft will showcase new gameplay footage on December 10th. This will definitely please all fans of BG&E2 as they will get a new look at this highly anticipated title.

Tuesday news, part two:

Warhammer: Vermintide 2 goes back to Ubersreik in new DLC
https://www.pcgamer.com/warhammer-vermintide-2-goes-back-to-ubersreik-in-new-dlc/
Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is going back to the series’ old stomping grounds of Ubersreik in the upcoming Back to Ubersreik DLC. Cram the teaser into your eyes.

A big-budget Five Nights at Freddy's game is in the works
https://www.pcgamer.com/a-five-nights-at-freddys-aaa-game-is-in-the-works-but-the-movie-is-delayed-a-bit/
Five Nights at Freddy's creator Scott Cawthon said in a Steam update posted today that "there are a lot of great things being worked on," most of which will see the light of day in 2019. The FNAF movie announced in February will not be one of them, however, and not just because it takes a long time to make a movie: Cawthon said he had a script completed and everyone was happy with it, but then he decided that he wasn't, so he tossed it and started over.

Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales is now available on Steam
https://www.pcgamer.com/thronebreaker-the-witcher-tales-is-now-available-on-steam/
After a few weeks of exclusivity on GOG, the card-based RPG Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales is now available on Steam.
Pricing and features are effectively identical: The Steam release has achievements and cloud saves, just like the GOG version, but does not offer Steam trading cards, which obviously aren't available in the GOG release either. But while Steam is obviously the dominant digital storefront, CD Projekt still seems to want to nudge people toward GOG.

Theme park sim Parkitect is leaving Early Access
https://www.pcgamer.com/theme-park-sim-parkitect-is-leaving-early-access/
I can’t look at Parkitect without immediately being flung back to the heady days of RollerCoaster Tycoon, where I’d build deadly rides that could make even the strongest of stomachs churn. It’s primed to leave early access and, as the release trailer above reveals, 1.0 will launch on November 29, along with a 26-scenario campaign.
>> Another one to put on my ever expanding wishlist...

Fallout 76's beta reportedly isn't uninstalling for some players
https://www.pcgamer.com/fallout-76s-beta-reportedly-isnt-uninstalling-for-some-players/
As promised, the Fallout 76 beta had its fair share of bugs, and while the beta has now ended, it hasn’t quite stopped causing problems. Some PC users are reporting that the Bethesda.net launcher won’t let them uninstall the game. It’s a bit clingy.
>> Face palm.

Fallout 76 will get new Vaults, quests, and faction-based PvP in future updates
https://www.pcgamer.com/fallout-76-will-get-new-vaults-quests-and-faction-based-pvp-in-future-updates/
Fallout 76 will finally go live later this week—check out the full launch schedule if you want to be there when the flag drops—but there's a lot still to be done after that happens. In a "Launch and Beyond" message posted today, Bethesda Games Studios hinted at what it's got planned for the post-release future.

Fallout 76 is live on PC now
https://www.pcgamer.com/fallout-76-launch-times/
Fallout 76 has gone live on PC, seemingly everywhere in the world. We've just logged into servers from the US west coast and the UK, and we're seeing reports from players around the globe that they've been able to start playing as well.
>> But if you're waiting to get the game, until the game is a bit less buggy (It's Bethesda after all), you can already plan your character.

EVE Online's new co-op expansion, Onslaught, is out now
https://www.pcgamer.com/eve-onlines-new-co-op-expansion-onslaught-is-out-now/
EVE Online’s Onslaught expansion is out now, bringing players together for co-operative journeys and pitting them against each other in high-risk duels. Check out the feature teaser above.

See exclusive video reveals during the Golden Joystick Awards 2018 live stream this Friday
https://www.pcgamer.com/see-exclusive-video-reveals-during-the-golden-joystick-awards-2018-live-stream-this-friday/
The votes are in, now all that's left is to reveal the winning games at this year's Golden Joystick Awards on Twitch this Friday afternoon.
Before the ceremony begins, at 3.00pm GMT / 7.00am PST / 10.00am EST, join GamesRadar's James Jarvis, Zoe Delahunty-Light, and Brandon Saltalamacchia for some speculation and an exclusive interview with Bethesda's Pete Hines about Fallout 76. You can also enjoy dev walkthroughs for Hitman 2 and Pokémon: Let's Go.
>> Hmm, Friday is 16th... could MSoft confirm one of the worst kept secrets as of late, the PC port of Sunset Overdrive during the show?

I am actually okay with this.

Well, on one hand, this move will allow them to focus on improving the performance of their chips, trying to catch up with Nvidia.

But on the other hand, this will give an advantage to Nvidia because developers will get used to work on Ray Tracing effects through Nvidia's software, potentially creating another PhysX scenario.

I just want a wireless headset with 2x4k and high FOV, is that too much to ask?

Yes, and you know it .

Kids in the future will laugh at me how I would ever want something as low quality as 4k.

Even future viv would look at this post and be ashamed by your low standards.

Yep, it's time for the Wednesday news:

SALES & DEALS

Get Observer, Beholder and more in the Humble Dystopian Bundle
https://www.pcgamer.com/get-observer-beholder-and-more-in-the-humble-dystopian-bundle/
Everyone loves dystopian settings so much that we decided to live in one, but that doesn’t mean we can’t also enjoy a good fictional dystopia, which is exactly what the Humble Dystopian Bundle offers up.
Pay what you want for Tokyo 42, Distrust, Beholder and Orwell. Beholder’s the only one I’ve played, and it’s great but rather unsettling. You play a landlord tasked with surveilling your tenants for an authoritarian government, peeping on them, bugging their flat, rummaging through their things.

GOG celebrates the arrival of new Japanese Visual Novel with a new Midweek sale named Soul of Japan and filled with visual novels, jRPGs and action RPGs up to 80% off: https://www.gog.com/promo/20181114_japanese_midweek

Let's check Steam's daily deal, as well as its 4 Midweek Madness deals:

• The daily deal is This War of Mine, 70% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/282070/This_War_of_Mine/
• The first of the Midweek Madness deal is a Norway Sale (Connan exiles, Teslagrad, The Longest Journey, etc.) with discounts ranging from 20 to 90%: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/games-from-norway/
• Next comes Injustice 2, 50% off (the DLCs are not on sale): https://store.steampowered.com/app/627270/Injustice_2/
• Crusader Kings II is 75% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/203770/Crusader_Kings_II/
• And lastly, the Darksiders franchise is on sale, 90% off for the bundle and 85% off each individual game: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/darksiders/

Lastly, at Fanatical there's a new Ashes of Singularity: Escalation Bundle with 2 tiers, one with 3 products (game + 2 DLCs) and another with 9 (game plus 8 DLCs): https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/ashes-of-singularity-escalation-bundle

SOFTWARE

NVIDIA GeForce 416.94 WHQL available for download, optimized for Battlefield V, Fallout 76 & Hitman 2
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/nvidia-geforce-416-94-whql-available-for-download-optimized-battlefield-v-fallout-76-hitman-2/
NVIDIA has released a brand new driver for its graphics cards. According to the key notes, the NVIDIA GeForce 416.94 WHQL driver provides the optimal gaming experience for Battlefield V, Fallout 76 and Hitman 2.
Unfortunately, the release notes are not yet available so we don’t have enough information about what has been changed or improved.
>> Available from here.

Windows 10 October Update Version 1809 has been re-released and is available for download
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/windows-10-october-update-version-1809-has-been-re-released-and-is-available-for-download/
Microsoft has announced that the October 2018 update for Windows 10 has been re-released. This update came out a few days ago but was pulled since it was deleting files from the hard drives of those that had downloaded.
As Microsoft has publicly stated:
“On November 13, 2018, we will begin the re-release of the Windows 10 October Update (version 1809), Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server, version 1809. We encourage you to wait until the feature update is offered to your device automatically.”
This update will bring official support to DirectX RayTracing (DXR) so hopefully we’ll some patches for both Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Battlefield 5 in November or December.

Valve paid $20,000 to hacker who discovered critical Steam security flaw
https://www.pcgamer.com/valve-paid-dollar20000-to-hacker-who-discovered-critical-steam-security-flaw/
Security researcher Artem Moskowsky recently discovered a flaw in Steam that enabled unscrupulous users with access to the developer portal to generate unlimited game keys. But rather than reward himself with a copy of every game on the platform, or generating thousands of Crusader Kings 2 keys to unload through resellers, he brought the problem to Valve's attention and was rewarded with $20,000 for his troubles.
"This bug was discovered randomly during the exploration of the functionality of a web application," Moskowsky told The Register. "It could have been used by any attacker who had access to the portal."

MODS/EMULATORS

-empty-

GAMING NEWS

Shadow of the Tomb Raider PC patch 6 available for download, full release notes revealed
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/shadow-of-the-tomb-raider-pc-patch-6-available-for-download-full-release-notes-revealed/
EIDOS Montreal and Nixxes have released a new patch for the PC version of Shadow of the Tomb Raider. According to the release notes, this latest update adds matchmaking & friend invite for the new cooperative gameplay functionality added with the Forge of Destiny Challenge Tomb.

Latest The Sims 4 patch brings terrain tools, first-person camera and new career, available for download
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/latest-the-sims-4-patch-brings-terrain-tools-first-person-camera-and-new-career-available-for-download/
Electronic Arts has released a brand new major update for The Sims 4 that introduces terrain tools, adds a first-person camera viewpoint, brings a new career, as well as additional basement levels and half wall heights.

Fighting EX Layer is coming to the PC on November 30th, official PC system requirements
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/fighting-ex-layer-is-coming-to-the-pc-on-november-30th-official-pc-system-requirements/
ARIKA has launched the official Steam store page for Fighting EX Layer, revealing that this new fighting game will come out on the PC on November 30th. In addition, the team has revealed the game’s official minimum and recommended PC system requirements.

A new Descent game is coming out in 2019, first screenshots and details
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/a-new-descent-game-is-coming-out-in-2019-first-screenshots-and-details/
Descendent Studios, the team behind Descent: Underground, is currently working on a new Descent game that will be powered by Unreal Engine 4, called Descent (2019). According to its description, this new Descent will be a classic six-degrees-of-freedom action-reimagined for a new generation using Unreal Engine 4.

Battlefield 5 day-1 patch adds DXR real-time ray tracing support
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/battlefield-5-day-1-patch-adds-dxr-real-time-ray-tracing-support/
Electronic Arts has released the day-1 patch for Battlefield 5 for all platforms. According to the release notes, this first patch adds further improvements to game client stability, resolves an issue which would make the menus unusable when cancelling a matchmaking session and brings support to DXR real-time ray tracing.

Fate/EXTELLA LINK is coming to the PC in Q1 2019
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/fate-extella-link-is-coming-to-the-pc-in-q1-2019/
Marvelous Europe has announced that Fate/EXTELLA LINK is set for release in the first quarter of 2019 on the PC. Picking up right where the 2017 smash hit Fate/EXTELLA: The Umbral Star left off, Fate/EXTELLA LINK adds 10 servants to the original roster of 16.

New screenshots released for Square Enix’s LEFT ALIVE
https://www.dsogaming.com/screenshot-news/new-screenshots-released-for-square-enixs-left-alive/
Square Enix has released a new set of screenshots for its upcoming action/mech title, LEFT ALIVE. LEFT ALIVE will allow players to control human characters and mechs in third-person perspective and these latest screenshots showcase some of the in-game characters.